Box-link chain



Apr. 17, 1923.

W. E. WILLIS Box LINK CHAIN Filed May 2'?, 1922 (Felgs. 1'6 lusraaf'e /wabl ar) l: j... 2

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Patented Apr. 17, 1923..

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WARREN E. WILLIS, F NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB. TO WALLACE G. FRANKLIN, CLARENCE W. FISHER AND ELTON B. FISHER, COPARTNERS DOING: BUSINESS AS E. I. FRANKLIN & CO., OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOX-LINK CHAIN.

Application filed May 27,

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VARREN E. WILLIS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at North Attleboro, inthe county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Link Chains, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention is a new chain, especially adapted `for use in chain bracelets, and is designed to more perfectly adapt an economical form of construction to the intended purpose, making it superior to other forms of construction which are more expensive to make;

In the drawings:

Figure l is a planview of a blank;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a link after the first forming; I 2o Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section showing the link after the formation of the jewel socket;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the connecting link' Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of two box links, connected;

Figures l to 6 represent an old form of box link.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of my improved box link;

Figure 8 isa plan view of my improved connecting link;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section, the connecting link in elevation, of two improved box links, connected;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the connected links .of Fig. 9.

Chain bracelets have heretofore been madein many forms of chain, some of which were the ordinary chain forms, the links of which are so formed and connected as to be flexible in all directions. In other forms, the links were designed to be of such form and so connected as to be fully flexible in one direction only, so that the bracelet might be flexed about the wearers wrist, but would not freely iex in the op- 50 posite direction, nor transversely. It is with this latter type of semi-iiexible chain that my present invention is concerned.

I have illustrated in the drawings successive steps in the formation of a link and 1922. vSerial No. 584,157.

a chain of the semi-flexible type, indicated above. In Figure l is shown a box link blank, in Figures 2 and 3 the first bending operation, in which the sides l, are bent up on the center, 2, and the hooks, 3, are half formed by being bent up in the same way as the sides. In Fig. 4 the formation of the jewel socket or cup is indicated. Figure 2 is a plan view, and Figure 3 a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2. A quantity of box links are formed as above described and are assembled by setting two box links together with the hookmembers, 3, opposed, and passing over the opposed hook members a square link 4, as shown in Figure 5. The free ends of the opposed hook members on adjacent box links are then bent over away from each other, as shown in the longitudinal sectional elevation, Figure 6 and the two box links are thus secured together. This assembling is continued till the desired length of chain is formed and the clasp sections, of any desired type, are attached at the ends.

The chain thus formed has a defect, since the successive box links are secured together by link 4, at one side, in line with the jewel sockets J, flexing around the ends of links 4 and the hooks 3 as a pivot and the sides l are brought by the iexure close together and may easily and do frequently, override and underride one another, forming locking frictional engagement and forcing the sides from their true position to a distorted shape, the sides of the box links becoming more and more distorted, in use, until repairs are necessary, after which the process of distortion is repeated.

To prevent this action and perfect this form of chain, I have changed the structure of the box link and provided a novel connecting link. In my new box link I form the jewel socket J, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the connecting link 4 is held on its hook 3, out of line with the jewel at about the median line of the chain, instead of, as in the old chain, in line with the front, or jewel, side of the chain. Each box link, of course,` as the chain flexes, pivots upon its own hooks and the ends of the connecting link 4. The connecting link 4 I provide upon each side member, with pins 41, which project between the ends l of the box links, spacing them apart and preventing the ends of sides 1 from approachin other; an endless connecting link between the end of the sides of adjacent links. opposed hooksy upon adjacent` box links, further function of the pins lll is that any having spacing pins projectingfiom the tendency of the chain to flex laterally is resides of the links between the opposed ends 15 5 sisted by immediate contact of the ends of of the sides of the several box linksvand sides 1 with' a pin 41. lying in line with the-bottom of the jewel I claim: socket adjacent thereto. Y A box-link chain, made up of a multi- Signed at North Attleboro, Massachuplicity of open ended boxes carrying a jewel setts, this twenty fourth day of May, 1922. 20 10 socket to one side of the box and a hook at each end of the box7 bent toward the WARREN E. WILLIS. 

